Arsene Wenger believes Arsenal have now answered the biggest question of all about their title-winning credentials.

Wenger insists he never tunes into football radio phone-ins - amusingly, he revealed recently he plays Bob Marley CDs in his car - but even he cannot avoid hearing the accusations made against his team.

No leaders. No spirit. They lack the mentality to be champions.

That’s what the pundits regularly say.

But they delivered a victory against Newcastle on Saturday, in a game which was all about winning ugly and coming through a major test, to retain top spot.

Wenger has built three title winning teams - in 1998, 2002 and 2004 - in his Arsenal career, knows what it takes and is convinced this current generation has the “charisma” to finish top of the pile in May.

In pictures — Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle:

The Gunners boss even admitted himself that some of his previous teams could play pretty football but lacked the ability to dig in and scrap.

Wenger said after the 1-0 victory: “It is another aspect of your team that is tested in a game like that.

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"You fight, not to concede a goal, not panic and wait for your chance. We were more questioned on that aspect than the way we play football, so it is good sometimes to win like that.

“I have belief because of the experience, the quality of the attitude.

"I think a team always has a charisma. If you look at the team as a unit, it is like a person. If you look at your team like a person and the vibes coming out, you can sense - when you are a long time in the job - if there is something in there or not.

“In my job, if you don’t believe in your team you are in a bad shape.

Great Gunns: Arsenal's 2003-04 Invincibles had style AND substance (
Image:
Getty)

"I think they are more experienced. When we moved into the stadium here the average age was 23 or 24. On our day we could play everybody off the park but when you had to dig deep, come out with your knowledge and your experience, it was a bit more difficult — but these are different teams.

“Our target, and my target, is to get the best out of the team and, if possible, make sure nobody is better than us.

"If somebody is better than us, it’s sport.”

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Wenger lacked his usual sartorial elegance on the touchline in the second half as he put on a tracksuit because the rain had drenched the suit he wore at kickoff.

He laughed when it was pointed out that he looked like Tony Pulis, but without the baseball cap.

The plain truth is that Newcastle were better than Arsenal on the day.

Raining champions? Saturday's downpour forced Wenger to ditch this outfit at halftime (
Image:
Stuart MacFarlane)

Three times, Petr Cech denied Georginio Wijnaldum. Aleksandar Mitrovic also missed a great chance.

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Arsenal got lucky.

They looked tired, jaded and really struggled. But they kept going, and it took big performances from Cech and the centre-halves. Mesut Ozil kept on running and Olivier Giroud produced an old-fashioned centre forward’s display.

It was the latter’s header which set up Laurent Koscielny to force home the winner as the home side finally scored and relegation candidates Newcastle buckled.

Cech it out! Arsenal bought keeper Petr to make the difference in matches like this one (
Image:
Rex)

Wenger admits Arsenal need a rest and he will give all the players at least two days off now. Some will be rested for the FA Cup tie with Sunderland next Saturday, and he hopes that will recharge some batteries.

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But the Gunners boss, with a big grin, laughed as he clearly hopes his players will put their feet up rather than go out partying.

“Of course I will give them a rest,” said Wenger. “I will give them a couple of days, an extra rest, but you never know what shape they come back in! It depends what you do when you have a rest! You can come back more tired!”

The manager will be hoping they do come back fresh but must also have his fingers crossed that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain can find some confidence from somewhere.

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The England midfielder is struggling badly. His ability and technique is not in doubt, but he is clearly lacking in belief.

That is not something which the rest of the team are short of and, while Wenger struggles to understand why, he still cannot decide whether the topsy-turvy nature of this Premier League season is good or bad.

He added: “That’s the question people ask at the moment. Is this the worst league ever - or is it the best league ever? I haven’t analysed it, but you can go both ways.”

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